[Ronin]

I don’t have any real feeling for how Kan is going to react on this. He’s a lib in the economic sense, but he is also pretty nationalistic, as are most Japanese men of his age group.

My gut says he is not going to give in easily, but I also do not see him making any moves serious moves like sending naval reinforcements to the area or even more Coast Guard ships.

Bilateral trade between Japan and China is huge, and both sides would get hurt in a trade war, but most of the things Japan buys from China it can get elsewhere.

Interesting times...

[AmericanInTokyo]

That's about where I am on this whole thing. But let's see. Indeed, stay tuned.

Now would be a good time for Ambassador Bolton or Governor Palin to come to East Asia, I'd say--particularly to the camp of our allies. I know Armitage is already kicking Peking in the shins, saw him on Japanese TV just today.

[WellyP]

I am thinking that China has some huge internal problems and like Obama, wishes to distract or redirect the debate to cover those problems.